The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Big Ten institution, (UNL) is seeking a visionary leader to serve as its next Department Chair. ECE is one of seven academic units in the College of Engineering (COE) and plays a critical role in the college’s mission to deliver world-class education, develop Complete Engineers, and to foster cutting-edge research. The ECE department is poised for growth and will being significant investment over the next 5 years. We are seeking a leader who can capitalize on this opportunity and advance the department and college strategic plan.

Department Overview
The ECE department includes 41 faculty members, more than 500 undergraduate students, and nearly 100 graduate students. Faculty are engaged in a wide range of research areas, including high-tech computing, machine learning and AI, robotics, telecommunications, nanotechnology, biomedical applications, power and energy systems, and electromagnetics. With two ABET accredited undergraduate degree programs in electrical engineering and computer engineering, four graduate degree programs, as well as two interdisciplinary graduate degree programs, ECE has been a leader in the field since awarding its first electrical engineering degree in 1891.

The department spans two campuses—City Campus in Lincoln and the Scott Campus in Omaha. Faculty, staff and students across both campuses are overseen by the ECE Chair, who reports to the Dean of Engineering. ECE also benefits from newly renovated facilities in the Engineering Research Center (ERC), Kiewit Hall (KH), and the Scott Engineering Center (SEC) on the Lincoln and Omaha campuses, with space designed to support future innovation and collaboration.

College Growth
The ECE department plays a key role in advancing the COE’s ambitious research goals, supported by cutting-edge facilities, including an $80M research building and a $115M engineering education building. ECE contributes to the college’s record enrollment of 3,722 undergraduates, a 9.1% increase from Fall 2023. COE is dedicated to delivering a world-class engineering education, featured by its unique Complete Engineer® Program. Additionally, the UNL COE was one of the first three institutions in the nation to receive the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Silver Award. We are seeking an innovative leader with a vision for growth and a strong commitment to advancing research, education, and inclusive excellence in the ECE department.

About UNL and Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is Nebraska’s land-grant research university, is a member of the Big Ten, and ranks among Doctoral Universities with the Highest Research Activity [Carnegie CIHE]. As the state’s flagship institution, UNL plays a key role in the research and innovation landscape of the region. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, the third-largest city in the Big Ten Conference, UNL offers a vibrant, welcoming community with a strong economy and a high quality of life. Learn more about life in Lincoln at https://placetobelnk.com/, https://aboutlincoln.unl.edu/, and https://www.lcoc.com/meet-lincoln.

Position Description
The Professor and Chair of the ECE Department serves as the academic leader and chief administrative officer, guiding the department’s mission in research, teaching, service, and engagement. The Chair is responsible for advancing the department’s success, relevance, and continuous improvement, ensuring the competitiveness of its graduates and the success of its faculty.

Key responsibilities include:

As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.

We seek a leader who excels in a dynamic environment, effectively engaging with diverse stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a robust, long-standing research portfolio and a forward-thinking, collaborative, and results-driven approach, including:

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Dr. Witty Srisa-an
witawas@unl.edu